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                                  B"H
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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1446
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                           Copyright (c) 2016
                 Lubavitch Youth Organization - L.Y.O.
                              Brooklyn, NY
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             THE WEEKLY PUBLICATION FOR EVERY JEWISH PERSON
   Dedicated to the memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson N.E.
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        November 11, 2016      Lech-Lecha      10 Cheshvan, 5777
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                                Recycle

November 15 is "America Recycles Day." Advertising (on recycled paper,
of course) encourages people to get involved and  make pledges to learn,
act and share.

What is our responsibility toward recycling as Jews living in today's
world?

The Midrash (Ecclesiastics Rabba) states: In the hour when G-d created
the first person, He took him and let him pass before all the trees of
the garden of Eden, and said to him: See My works, how fine and
excellent they are! Now all that I have created for you have I created.
Think upon this and do not corrupt and desolate My world; for if you
corrupt it, there is no one to set it right after you.

From this teaching it is clear that G-d created the world for people to
inhabit and use, but with the understanding that we act responsibly
toward all of creation.

Is there, perhaps, more that we can learn from recycling? As everything
we see and hear is a lesson for us in our G-dly service, can we learn
from the suggestions made in previous years of America Recycles Day?

Commit to "buy recycled" at home and at work: Being a Jew requires a
commitment. And that commitment is for home and for work, the two places
where we spend most of the 24 hours of our days. Living Jewishly
shouldn't be relegated to the time spent in the synagogue or certain
holidays.

Think before you buy. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle: Think before you buy into
the latest pop-psychology or new-age spirituality. Ask yourself, "Will
this reduce my connection to G-d? Should I reuse, i.e., re- experience
and reapply, Jewish traditions before I 'buy' new ones. Can I recycle,
rescue, save customs that have been in our family for generations?"

Start a paper recycling program in your office, school, or community:
Jewish living is best experienced with others. Start a class in your
office, school or community.

Ask your local recycling coordinator about adding additional materials
to your community's recycling program: Discuss with your family adding
additional mitzvot to your "local" Jewish program.

Tell your local retailers you want them to stock more products made from
recycled materials: If you can do it for recycling, you can do it for
kosher products in supermarkets, Jewish books in national book store
chains, modest clothing in boutiques.

Encourage the use of recycled-content products in your business or
school: Reach out to other Jews and encourage them to get more involved
in things Jewish. We are encouraged to share every bit of knowledge we
have; even if all you know is the letter 'alef,' you should teach it to
someone who doesn't even know alef.

Visit a nearby recycling facility or landfill: Visit Jewish sites and
scenes. Jewish museums are great, but visit places where Judaism is
alive. Tour unique Jewish communities. Go to a matza bakery. Spend a
Shabbat in a neighborhood where everyone's doing it. See what the inside
of a mikva looks like. Attend a giant menora lighting ceremony this
Chanuka.

This year in particular, make pledges to learn, act and share.

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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This week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with G-d's command to
Abram, "Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father's
house, to the land which I will show you." In the land that Abram will
be shown, G-d will make him into a great nation. So Abram,  his wife
Sarai, and their nephew Lot, traveled to the land of Canaan where Abram
builds an altar and continues to spread the message of a one G-d.

All of this takes place when Abram is 75 years old. Why doesn't the
Torah tell us about his early life, how he recognized his creator, how
he came to understand that G-d is the one true G-d and the sacrifices he
made, standing up for his belief in G-d? Why doesn't the Torah tell us
about the kind of person he was, as it does concerning Noah, "Noah was a
righteous man..."? What lesson is the Torah trying to impress on us by
starting the story of Abram with a command?

Abram was the first Jew. His life is a lesson on what being a Jew is all
about. The Torah only shares stories of Abram that provide a lesson for
us, on how to be a Jew.

By opening with G-d's first command to Abram, G-d is sending us a
message. That the connection between G-d and a Jew is not based on ones
understanding of G-d, so that the greater the understanding the greater
the connection. Rather our connection is because he chose us regardless
of our philosophical or theological understanding. Our connection is
greater than any understanding, it is an intrinsic connection with G-d,
because he chose us, like he chose Abram.

By not describing Abram's character, G-d emphasizes this point. That a
Jew is always connected, regardless of his or her spiritual state.

Also, opening with a command, tells us that our purpose is, first and
foremost, to do G-d's commandments. The way we experience this
connection is by doing mitzvot (commandments).

We shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that we need to reach some
spiritual level to start doing mitzvot. The opposite is true, by doing
mitzvot we experience the infinite connection that is always there.

May this Shabbat be truly beautiful and unifying.

           Adapted by Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz from the teachings of the
            Rebbe, yitzihurwitz.blogspot.com. Rabbi Hurwitz, who is
       battling ALS, and his wife Dina, are emissaries of the Rebbe
                                                   in Temecula, Ca.

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                              The Conduit

Dr. Martin Graf has been practicing internal medicine since 1964. He
began attending college at Alfred University after graduating high
school at 16. From there, he attended Wake Forest Medical School in
North Carolina, where he finished his medical boards with the highest
mark.

Though he hadn't needed to study to pass his boards, when Dr. Graf
started seeing patients, as an intern and then a resident, "I wanted to
know everything. I wanted to help solve all the problems that were being
brought to me. I read and read and read. "

Dr. Graf attended the University of Chicago for his medical residency.
The only resident not from an Ivy League school, he was named Chief
Resident in his last year. He also did a fellowship in allergy and
immunology at NYU, as well as two years in the military at Bethesda
Naval Hospital. "My real strength is patient care, though. And that is
what I have been doing for the past 47 years."

Dr. Graf met his wife, Judith, during his fellowship. "I feel G-d guided
me to meet her. My parents found a studio apartment for me near NYU. A
few weeks before I was to move in, the sitting tenants decided to stay.
There was another apartment available in the same building. Judith was
my next door neighbor but our paths never crossed. And then, one day,
both of our apartments got flooded, and we went into the hallway, which
is where we met.

"I was raised in a home where my mother was agnostic and my father
didn't attend synagogue. I did not go to a synagogue after my Bar Mitzva
until we had a son and wanted him to go to Hebrew school.

""While at the synagogue, there was an assistant rabbi who gave me a
copy of a debate between Dennis Praeger and Howard Kushner on why bad
things happen to good people. I was so impressed with Mr. Praeger's
arguments that I began listening to his tapes. He then did the
monumental task of teaching Torah for the next 18 years. I anxiously
awaited my four tapes each month

"Six years ago I got in touch with Rabbi Yehudah Shurpin from
Chabad.org's 'Ask the Rabbi.' Rabbi Shurpin recommended I attend a JLI
class (myjli.com) at my local Chabad. When I attended my first class at
Chabad of Potomac, seeing a rabbi with a black hat and beard was as
strange for me as seeing someone from an African tribe. Rabbi Mendel
Bluming has been an excellent teacher, spiritual leader, and good
friend. Since then, I have continued my studies with Rabbi Bluming and
as well with Isser Charter, my mentor at JNET (jnet.org)."

Dr. Graf contacted us to share with our readers stories of how he sees
G-d's  guidance in his medical practice. A few of those stories follow:

Soon after I went into practice, I had a new patient come into my
office. She was 75 years old and I greeted her by saying "Welcome Nan
Fox."

She immediately told me "Sonny boy, my name is Mrs. Charles Fox and if
you want to see me again you will refer to me as such." I noted that in
her chart.

After I finished the history in my consultation room and physical exam
in the examining room I told her my nurse would come in to help me with
an additional exam. She said, "Sonny boy, no one examines me there."

I noted in the chart that she refuses the exam and not to ask her ever
again. She came in yearly for her complete physical and on the 10th year
after completing her exam, for some inexplicable reason I said, "Mrs.
Fox. How about me doing the exam this year?" To my astonishment she
agreed. I found an early cancer, she was operated on and cured.

A few years later I received a phone call at midnight from the husband
of a patient of mine who was in Hawaii. She had always enjoyed excellent
health but that day had suddenly lapsed into a coma. All her lab tests
were normal and they were preparing to do an exploratory operation on
her brain to try to find out what had happened to her.

We didn't yet have Cat Scans or MRI's. I asked him if she had had a
urinary tract infection and he said "yes." Was she taking Cipro? "Yes" I
told him to stop the Cipro and she would wake up. She stopped it and
returned to normal health. To the best of my knowledge, coma due to
Cipro is either exceedingly rare or has never been reported. My
diagnosis was not humanly possible. It was then that I realized G-d was
using me to help others.

A few years later, my brother had an appointment with me. On performing
a routine medical exam, I felt something that seemed abnormal to me.
Although his blood test returned normal, I felt compelled to send him to
a specialist. The specialist called me to tell me that he thought
everything was normal. I told him about my concerns. He said if I
insisted he would do a biopsy. The biopsy came back as cancer. I sent
him to Dr. Patrick Walsh, the famous urologist at Johns Hopkins who
invented the nerve sparing operation for cancer of the prostate. Dr
Walsh told my brother that this was the smallest cancer of the prostate
he had ever treated! I was so grateful to G-d as my brother and I are
very close.

I can cite dozens more instances where G-d has used me to help people,
but I will end with one where G-d used my stupidity to help another
patient. Mr. Pflum had a complete physical exam scheduled. Unfortunately
that morning I had two emergency patients come in who both needed to be
hospitalized.

When I finally called my first scheduled patient in, I was 1 1/2 hours
late and for the first and only time, I brought him directly to the exam
room without doing my usual history. I didn't even review his chart.
Everything appeared to be normal and my nurse did an EKG because he had
mild hypertension. The EKG was wildly abnormal so I looked at his chart
to see what his last EKG showed. It was then that I realized I had done
a complete history and physical on him just three months ago and his EKG
then was completely normal.

If I had reviewed the chart in advance as I always do, I would not have
repeated the EKG. I referred him to a cardiologist and he had a 99%
blockage of the main coronary artery. He was operated on and cured. I
told this story to my son who is an outstanding emergency room doctor
and he said, "Dad, you're just a good doctor." I told him that I am
neither a good or bad doctor; if you study Torah and allow G-d to come
into your life you may be as fortunate as I have been. I frequently get
praise and thanks from my patients, but I always tell them not to thank
me; I am only the conduit, thank  G-d.

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                  Torah Scrolls//Sanctuaries//Centers

A new Torah scroll was recently welcomed into the newly renovated
sanctuary at Chabad of Vacaville, California's 8,500-square-foot
facility on Main Street in historic downtown Vacaville.

Three new synagogues join the 30 active Chabad Centers in Moscow,
Russia. These three new synagogues also welcomed new Torah scrolls. A
synagogue opened at the MGIMO University, the largest in Russia, where
many Jewish students study. The second is in the Mitischi neighborhood.
The third is in the Sokol neighborhood.

The Chabad Center for Jewish Life in historic Fort Wood, Tennessee,
underwent major renovations and was rededicated recently. The 10,000
square foot center features a synagogue, a library, a lounge, and other
spaces for learning and special events. The center serves the Jewish
community of Chattanooga as well as Jewish college and medical students
from both University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Erlanger Hospital.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                              10 Elul 5704
                            August 29, 1944

My dear Mr. -------:

This is the first opportunity I have of replying to your letter of
August 1st, enclosing a memorandum expressing some thoughts. I am sorry
to say that owing to the fact that I recently lost my father, the delay
in answering you and offering you my comments was unavoidable.

As to the thesis of your dissertation, I was glad to note your interest
in such deep matters, and your understanding and outlook.

The subject under discussion is truly profound, and human speech is all
too limited to clearly and accurately define the delicate aspects
involved. It is therefore no reflection upon your exposition if I say
that some aspects of your dissertation remained unclear to me after I
carefully perused it.

Without going into detail concerning the subject matter, I will touch
upon its general outline, and after condensing your thesis, as I
understood it, I will put forth my comments.

Your thesis briefly appears to be that all things start in the state of
a "seed" and then tend to develop to the full capacity of growth
inherent in the "seed." Reaching its state of optimum growth the
organism is the seed of the next stage of development. Thus the original
"seed" passes through various stages of development and transformation,
in the course of which it combines forces with similar organisms,
establishing themselves as distinctive parts of combined organisms. This
combined organism is again merely a "seed" for higher development, and
so forth. Somewhere in the path of this order of development man comes
in, and here a new force is introduced - a psychic force - a part of
which is the power of free choice to either continue along the path of
growth and development, subject to the laws and principles of growth
that dominated the preceding organisms, or to defy them.

So much for your thesis.

Now, here are some aspects which the above thesis leaves unexplained.

 1) Since free choice is something possessed by man alone, and not by
    the lower forms, it follows that the power of free choice is a
    negative quality, for while all other things, subject to their laws
    of growth, can only progress, man, because of his power of free
    choice, can also regress.

    Some aspects of your dissertation remained unclear to me after I
    carefully perused it.


 2) The thesis does not make it clear what is this "seed" that passes
    through the various stages of growth and to which the evolution is
    applied. For instance, a seed of an apple is planted, and it brings
    forth a tree bearing sour or small apples, but the seed of these
    apples produces a tree bearing sweet or large apples. Now, we cannot
    say that the first seed developed into a better seed, since the
    first seed is non-existent. Nor can we say that a better species of
    apple trees has been evolved, for species is merely a term which we
    use for facilitating the understanding of creation around us; we
    classify and subdivide all phenomena into various kinds, species,
    categories, orders, etc., according to common features, merely in
    order to make it easier for us to study and understand them.

    Did you then have in mind that "nature" has advanced, because the
    apple trees hitherto had been bearing sour apples, but through
    development and perfection "nature" now produces apple trees bearing
    sweet apples?

                        continued in next issue


                              From www.nissanmindelpublications.com

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                              ALL TOGETHER
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      What is involved in the commandment of "visiting the sick"?


Visiting the sick, or "Bikur Cholim" in Hebrew, is one of the
commandments for which the Talmud has set no limits. The Talmud states
that by visiting a sick person one helps him to recover. One should
cheer the sick person with pleasant conversation and good advice and
helping them in any way possible. For the performance of this mitzva a
person is rewarded in this world as well as in the World to Come.

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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In this week's Torah portion, we read that G-d promised Abraham the
lands of ten nations, including not only the lands of the seven
Canaanite nations conquered by the Jews after the exodus from Egypt, but
also the lands of the Keini, the Kenizi, and the Kadmoni. G-d promised -
and thus gave - the Jewish people all these ten lands. However, until
the Era of the Redemption, the fulfillment of this promise will not be
realized and we have only the lands of seven nations.

Similarly, it is in the Era of the Redemption that the relationship
between the Jewish people and the Holy Land will reach a state of
completion. At that time, all Jews - including the ten "lost" tribes -
will arise in the Resurrection and will live there.

Today we are still involved in the process of preparing to take
possession of the Holy Land, to include the lands of the Keini, Kenizi,
and the Kadmoni. This is particularly relevant now when, as the Rebbe
explained, we are the last generation of exile and the first generation
of redemption.

The Land of Israel was given to Abraham's descendants to transform it
into a dwelling for G-d. For it is through the conquest and settlement
of the Land of Israel that the fusion of the spiritual and the material
will come to its ultimate expression.

These ten lands refer to the refinement of our personal powers, the
seven emotional powers and the three intellectual powers. In the present
time, the Jews were granted only the lands of seven nation, i.e., the
seven emotional powers. Although we also make use of our intellect, at
present, the intellect serves the emotions. In contrast, in the Era of
the Redemption, the three intellectual powers will be expressed in their
full potential, being used to achieve a complete bond with G-d. For
through Torah study, one connects one's mind to G-d as He is manifest in
the Torah. This allows for a complete unity for "G-d and the Torah are
one."

This untiy will be reflected in an all-encompassing revelation of
G-dliness that will characterize the Era of the Redemption.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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And Malkitzedek, King of Shalem, brought out bread and wine, and he was
a priest of G d, most high (Gen. 14:18)

Rabbi Mordechai of Lachowitz would say, "Malkitzedek 'brought out'
introduced and led a new path in the worship of G d. Even when a person
'eats bread' and 'drinks wine,' he has the ability and potential to be a
'priest to G d, most high' one who serves G d."

                                *  *  *


At eight days old shall every male child be circumcised (Gen. 17:12)

A Jewish male enters into the covenant of Abraham at the tender age of
eight days, before he can possibly understand the significance of the
act, because brit mila (circumcision) involves the essence of the soul,
which exists on a level far above human understanding and comprehension.
The mitzva binds the soul to G-d, Who is also beyond our understanding
and comprehension.

                                                  (Sifrei Chasidut)

                                *  *  *


And the souls that they made in Charan (Gen. 12:5)

A person who takes pity on a poor man and sustains him is credited with
having "created" that person, as we learn from Abraham our forefather:
"The souls that they made" refers to the multitude of guests to whom
Abraham offered his hospitality and brought into his tent.

                                                            (Zohar)

                                *  *  *


And told it to Abram the Hebrew ("Ivri") (Gen. 14:13)

The word "Ivri" comes from the root word meaning, "side," for Abraham
stood alone on one side, while all the world opposed him.

                                                   (Breishit Rabba)

                                *  *  *


Look now toward the heaven and count the stars...so shall your seed be
(Gen. 15:5)

Just as the stars in the sky appear from afar to be tiny specks of
light, yet, in actuality, each one is an entire world, so, too, are the
Jews: In this world Jews may be the object of scorn and derision, yet,
in truth, the Jewish people are great and mighty, the foundation of the
world's very creation.

                                                    (Baal Shem Tov)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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When the young chasid heard that the Baal Shem Tov (known as the Besht)
was going to spend Shabbat in Posen, he was anxious to accompany him.
Alexei, the driver readied the coach and they set out on the journey.

The Baal Shem Tov never traveled in an ordinary manner. While the driver
sat napping, the horses were given free rein and ran at enormous speed.
When the horses finally stopped, the carriage was standing in a grassy
wooded area. The Baal Shem Tov took a flask and sent Alexei out to fill
it with water from a spring.

He returned with the water and the Besht gave it to the chasid,
cautioning him to make a blessing before drinking. As soon as the chasid
grasped the flask, he felt an intense thirst and barely managed to
recite the blessing. Afterward, the Besht and Alexei drank as well.

Everyone got back into the carriage. Once more, Alexei fell into a deep
sleep. The unreined horses continued at their unnatural speed, coursing
through the countryside. "We are going so fast, but we don't seem to be
reaching Posen," observed the chasid.

But the Besht was unconcerned, and replied, "We will be in Posen, G-d
willing, at the proper time." They travelled throughout the night at the
same enormous speed. When they stopped in the morning the Baal Shem Tov
prayed at great length. Then they resumed the trip. The hours passed in
rapid travel, but the chasid, who had travelled to Posen many times
before, saw no familiar sites. Nevertheless, he did not question the
Besht further.

Finally, the horses drew to a stop outside a ruined shack and the Besht
descended from the carriage. They entered the house and there on the
floor lay a sick old man surrounded by his tattered, emaciated family.
But when the old man saw the Besht, he rose to his feet and embraced
him. The two spoke in hushed tones for some time. After the old man
blessed the Baal Shem Tov they returned to the carriage and continued
their journey.

Shabbat was descending when at last they reached the city of Posen. They
alighted from the carriage on the Street of Students, a place known for
violent anti-Jewish riots. Sure enough, as soon as word had spread that
Jews had arrived they were surrounded by a vicious mob. The Besht
traversed the crowd, unafraid, with the frightened young man at his
heels.

They entered the house of a Jewish tailor, the only Jew tolerated by the
locals because of his useful trade. The tailor greeted his guests
joyfully, but with trepidation. "You have nothing to fear," the Besht
assured him. Together with the assistant tailors, they formed a minyan,
and began the afternoon service. But they were interrupted by the noise
of a mob outside the door. The Besht opened the door and focused his
blazing eyes on the hooligans. Terror-struck, they turned and fled.

When the story of this astonishing rabbi reached the ears of a certain
university professor, he burned with curiosity. What kind of man could
this be? He made his way to the tailor's house to observe the holy
Besht. The following day he returned and sat, eyes riveted on the
majestic figure of the rabbi. He listened intently to the Torah which
was taught, and didn't move until Shabbat was over.

When they had eaten the Saturday night meal escorting Shabbat, the Besht
instructed the driver to bring the carriage and they departed,
travelling again at a fabulous speed. In no time they arrived back in
Brod. The young man was completely baffled. He got up the nerve to
question the Besht. "I can't understand the point of this journey.
Please allow me to ask you three questions: First, why did we stop in
the grassy area? Second, who was the sick old man we visited? And third,
why did we spend Shabbat with the tailor in Posen?"

The Besht replied: "I will answer two of your questions. The third you
will decipher in due time. In the high grass there lay the bodies of two
murdered Jews who had never received a proper burial. By reciting the
blessings on the water, and praying the next morning we were able to
elevate their souls. The sick old man was the greatest tzadik of our
generation. He was destined to be Moshiach, but since our generation was
not prepared for him, he was to pass away that very night. As for the
reason for going to Posen, you will find out later."

Many years passed and one Shabbat the chasid happened to be in Posen. He
had occasion to visit the home of the rabbi and spent a wonderful
Shabbat there, absorbing the erudite Torah commentary of his host.
Suddenly the young man was struck by something his host had said. "I
heard these very same words from the Baal Shem Tov in the house of a
tailor right here in Posen!"

"Are you the young man who accompanied the Besht?" asked the rabbi.

"I am."

"Don't you recognize me? I am the university professor who was present.
The words of the Besht caused me to attach myself to Judaism."

Now the chasid finally understood the purpose of the mysterious trip to
Posen.

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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G-d told Abraham to journey to the Holy Land. Wherever Abraham went, he
saw that G-d's name was absent from mankind, and particularly in the
Land of Canaan. Therefore, "G-d appeared to Abram, and He said, 'To your
seed I will give this land.' and there he built an altar to G-d" (12:7)
This was the promise of the final Redemption when the Land will be fully
inhabited by the Jewish people and when G-d's glory will fill the earth.
Abraham responded with an offering of gratitude for the promise of the
complete redemption.

                                                   (Tiferes Shlomo)

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              END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1446 - Lech-Lecha 5777
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